The sums stood out. Four combined runs for the Coe-Brown and Pembroke baseball teams. Four combined hits. And two satisfied coaches.
One was happy with the win. The other was encouraged to know his team’s turn isn’t far away.
The Bears were the ones coming away with the victory, a 3-1 decision that lifted their record to 5-3 and provided them with the kind of gut-it-out win that can pay dividends come June and the Division II tournament.
“We had to scrap for the win, that’s for sure,” Bears Coach Sean Ashley said. “Definitely well-earned.”
The loss was another one, the seventh in as many games, in a long season for Pembroke. But with the pitching of A.J. Gagnon keeping them in it, the Spartans fought to within a run late, and were a play or two from overcoming the deficit.
“Every time (Gagnon) goes out there, he gives us a chance to win,” Coughlin said. “And we’re going to get that sooner or later for him.”
The Spartans didn’t get many chances against Dylan Andrews. The junior hurler stifled the Pembroke bats, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out eight in seven innings.
“He was throwing strikes, just attacking the zone as best he could,” Ashley said. “Couldn’t ask for a better outing from him. We didn’t give him much.”
They gave him enough. The Bears struck first with a loud blow in the second, as Jayson Cleveland walloped a Gagnon offering over the left-field wall to make it 1-0 – a lead that doubled an inning later when Brody Ashley walked, stole second and scored on an error.
“Good poke,” Coach Ashley said of Cleveland’s homer. “Good start. It gave us, not a spark, but something.”
Pembroke cut the gap to one in the top of the fifth, but Coe-Brown had an answer in the bottom of the sixth. Ashley smacked a one-out double and advanced on a wild-pitch, prompting the elder Ashley to roll the dice with a safety squeeze.
Andrew Therrien did his coach one better, however, as his bunt was good enough to score Ashley and give him a single in the process. Andrews kept the Spartans off the board the final frame to close out the win.
“We needed it. We had lost our last two games,” Coach Ashley said. “We earned it, but we’d like to see the bats come alive a little more.
“More of our games have been like that this year. I hope it bodes well, in terms of knowing how to win those games.
. . . “We’re just hoping to get a little production up and down our lineup. I think you’ll see us take off.”
The lineup mustered just enough against Gagnon, who allowed three hits while striking out three in six innings.
“He’s maturing out there every day,” Coughlin said of his ace. “The record doesn’t do justice for what he’s doing for us. . . . He absolutely kept us in it.”
Hopes for a first victory for Pembroke peaked in the fifth, when sophomore first baseman Jared Murray drilled a double off the right-field wall to score Connor Locke and make it 2-1.
The Spartans didn’t get any closer, but Coughlin came away confident his team’s fortunes are changing soon – if not already.
“It came down to who made the most mistakes. We made one or two more, and it gave them one or two runs,” he said. “You play two decent games after not being able to finish a game, it looks like things are headed in the right direction. . . . And we feel they’re headed in the right direction.”
(Drew Bonifant can be reached at 369-3340 or abonifant@cmonitor.com or on Twitter at @dbonifant)
From coaches’ reports
John Stark 10, Plymouth 0
Key players: John Stark – Egan Nickerson (2-for-3, 3 RBI 2 SB; 5 IP, 2 hits, 0 BB, 6 K), Cal Loos (2-for-2, BB, 2 runs, SB), Derek Goldrick (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Noah Greene (2-run single)
Highlights/key moments: Nickerson had another strong outing from the mound and the Generals’ bats came alive, scoring three runs in the third, four in the fourth and three more in the fifth for the 10-run rule victory.
Coach’s quote: “Very strong win for us today. The bats kept going from our strong seventh inning on Thursday and Egan (once again pitched well on the hill).” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: John Stark 5-2; Plymouth 2-5
Milford 8, MV 2
Key players: MV – Joe Ostrowski (2-for-3), Matt Ostrowski (2-for-3)
Highlights/key moments: Milford jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first two innings. Joe Ostrowski hit a double and a single in his first game back from a preseason injury.
Coach’s quote: “We gave Milford too many extra outs today. Joe Dougherty battled on the mound.” – MV’s Sean Wheeler
Records: MV 2-5; Milford 3-4
Bishop Brady 10, Bow 1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Tom Blandini (7 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 4 hits; 2 hits, 2 runs), Mario Fusco (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI), JP Nemcovich (2 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Martin Hecka (2 hits, 3 RBI), Alex Andrews (reached based three times, 3 runs); Bow – Connor Blandini (1-for-3, RBI), Jeff Bell (1-for-2), Mac Kimball (1-for-3), Jack Corriveau (1-for-3), Sam Selleck (run)
Highlights/key moments: Brady broke the game open with four runs in the third and fourth innings. Andrews started both rallies from the ninth spot in the batting order with a walk in the third and a base hit in the fourth. The Giants’ top four batters combined for 11 hits and 10 RBI.
Coach’s quote: “Tom (Blandini) pitched great and we played solid defense behind him. The top four guys in the order finally broke out and hit the ball the way I know they can. It was a great team win against a quality opponent.” – Bishop Brady’s Skip Foy
Records: Brady 3-3; Bow 4-2
Kearsarge 13, H-D 2
Key players: Kearsarge – Jake Vierzen (4 IP, 1 ER), Bryce Bourque (1 IP, 1 ER), Sam Lick (2 hits, 2 RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Kearsarge dominated from the beginning of the game. Brad Underhill highlighted a good defensive effort with a diving catch in the outfield and Brett Palmer had his first varsity RBI.
Coach’s quote: “Good way to end the first half of the season. This group has become more of a team over the last couple of days and the kids are really excited to get the second half going.” – Kearsarge’s Travis Pelletier
Records: Kearsarge 5-3; H-D 0-6
Winnisquam 3, Mascoma 1
Key players: Winnisquam – Tim Harmon (7 IP, 11 K, 2 hits; 2-fo-3, run), Blaise Ross (RBI double), Jake Snow (hit, RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Harmon pitched a perfect game into the fifth inning, striking out the side in the second and third innings. The Bears jumped out early, scoring two in the first and one in the fourth.
Coach’s quote: “Definitely Timmy’s best game of the year. He worked ahead the entire game, throwing first-pitch strikes to 20 of the 25 batters he faced. We played with a lead for one of the first times this year. We were focused defensively and it was a nice win after not playing for right days.” – Winnisquam’s Fred Caruso
Records: Winnisquam 2-4; Mascoma 2-4
Pittsfield 9, Derryfield 6
Key players: Pittsfield – Casey Clark (7 IP, 10 K, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned), Kyle Stockman (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 SB), Ben Stephens (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Brian Sullivan (3 walks)
Highlights/key moments: The Panthers scored four runs in the first to take an early lead, but fell behind 6-5 in the third. Pittsfield retook the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth and held the Cougars the rest of the way.
Coach’s quote: “Casey (Clark) pitched a very solid game tonight for us and the bottom of the lineup did their job by getting on base. This was a much-needed win for us.” – Pittsfield’s Rob Stockman
Records: Pittsfield 5-5; Derryfield 2-4
Concord 10, Central 2
Key players: Concord – Drew Livingston (3 goals, asst), Brendan Pearl (3 goals, 2 assists), Brad Hicks (2 goals, assist), Chris Cummings (2 goals, 2 assists), Ethan Donlon (8 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide won its second straight game, defeating the winless Little Green.
Records: Concord 5-4; Central 0-8
John Stark 10, Merrimack Valley 9
Key players: John Stark – Ryan Gordon (5 goals, assist), Jake Blanchette (2 goals, assist), Nick Aleksonis (goal, 3 assists), Drew McQuarrie (3 assists), Steven Medvetz (goal), Matt Bennetter (goal), Guiseppe Brown (10 saves), Jacob Fitts (played well on faceoffs); MV – Dillon Arrant (3 goals, 3 assists)
Highlights/key moments: With Gordon leading the way, the Generals edged the Pride in a battle between two teams jostling for position in Division II.
Records: John Stark 2-3; MV 3-2
Bishop Brady 9, Coe-Brown 6
Key players: Bishop Brady – Bryce Johnson (5 goals, assist), Rich Sullivan (2 goals, assist), Kyle Cioffi (goal), Connor Dougherty (goal); Coe-Brown – Liam Taylor (3 goals, assist), Ben Watso (2 goals), Ben Heyliger (goal), Jacob Switzer (13 saves), Gage Desrosiers (12 of 19 faceoffs)
Highlights/key moments: The teams played to a 2-2 tie after one and Brady held a slim 5-3 edge at halftime. Coe-Brown was shut out in the third, but scored three goals to make it close in the fourth. Johnson had his second straight five-goal game for Brady.
Coach’s quote: “Coe-Brown came ready to play today. We were rusty from break with a bunch of kids going away and we didn’t have a senior attackman playing. We also took way too many penalties, but I give Hanavan’s team a lot of credit for the strides they’ve made in their second season. They really challenged us today.” – Bishop Brady’s Justin Loring; “I’m proud of the progress we’e made. We lost 17-0 to this team last year and we were in this game.” – Coe-Brown’s Ryan Hanavan
Records: Bishop Brady 3-3; Coe-Brown 2-3
Hopkinton 13, Gilford 1
Key players: Hopkinton – Joe Cullinan (4 goals, 2 assists), Owen Kanter (4 goals, assist), Bowman Ridinger (2 goals, assist), Gerry Donahue (6 ground balls, 6 takeaways), Jake Hemmerlein (4 ground balls, 5 takeaways)
Highlights/key moments: After a slow first, Hopkinton scored seven goals in the second quarter to make it 8-0 at halftime. The Hawks cruised the rest of the way, only allowing one goal late in the game.
Coach’s quote: “The team put forth a great effort today. We set clear goals and did an excellent job in fulfilling them. I think that our offense really hit its stride in that they controlled the ball well and capitalized on opportunities.” – Hopkinton’s Deacon Blue
Records: Hopkinton 3-3; Gilford 1-5
Concord 8, Manchester Central 1
Key players: Concord – Justin Toler (8-3 win at No. 1), Aidan Connor (8-1 win No. 2), Adam Bryant (8-1 win No. 3), Sebastian Hat-Meyer (8-0 win No. 4), Matt Chorlian (8-3 win No. 5), Kevin Neary (8-2 win No. 6).
Highlights/key moments: Toler won a hard-hitting matchup against Central’s Howard Sevey, another one of the top players in the state, by taking the final four games of the set. Sevey got a measure of revenge when he and Sultan Akhter beat Toler and Connor at first doubles, 8-5, the first doubles loss of the year for Crimson Tide duo.
Records: Concord 6-1, Central 3-5
Oyster River 6, Coe-Brown 3
Key players: Coe-Brown – Nate Griffiths (8-4 singles win), Tyler Holman (8-2 singles win).
Highlights/key moments: Griffiths and Holman, who also teamed for a 9-8 doubles win, thrived for the Bears, but the team couldn’t get the support necessary for the win.
Records: Coe-Brown 6-1; Oyster River 7-0
Bow 8, Pelham 1
Key players: Bow – Brayden Binder (8-0 win at No. 1), Mike Mullen (8-1 win No. 2), Evan Alfano (8-0 win No. 3), Aditya Shah (8-4 win No. 3), Jack Olson (8-5 win No. 5), Owen Molind (8-2 win No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons wrapped up the win in singles and worked in some new players for the doubles matches. Brody Call and Justin Huppe won 8-1 at second doubles and Shane Wunderli and Dalton Allaben won 8-3 at third doubles.
Records: Bow 4-1, Pelham 1-6
Kearsarge 5, Monadnock 1
Kearsarge 6, Monadnock 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Tyler Valovic (won both singles matches), Tucker Valovic (won both singles matches), Jack Van Etten (won both singles matches), Matt Hubley (won both singles matches), Sam Williamson (won singles match), Charlie O’Connor (won singles match), Jeff Wallace (won singles match)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars swept a doubleheader on their home courts. Both matches were played to decision and both matches were decided after singles play.
Coach’s quote: “We’ll be tested tomorrow against Bow, that will be a whole different ball game.” – Kearsarge’s Lynn Miller
Records: Kearsarge 6-0; Monadnock 1-4
Concord 108, Salem 35
Key players: Concord – Angel Feliz (1st 100 in 11.11, 1st 200 in 23.59, 1st long jump in 19-2), Matt Adams (1st 400 in 53.2), Jamie Wilkes (1st 1,600 in 4:30, 1st 800 in 2:03.5), Alex Saveliev (1st 3,200 in 9:52), Jacob Nichol (1st 110 hurdles in 17.89), Clinton Mungeta (1st 300 hurdles in 44.65), Adam Dwight (1st pole vault in 8-6), Sam Orzechowski (1st triple jump in 36-5), 4×400 (1st), 4×100 (1st)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide won 13 of 17 events, finished second in 11 events and swept the 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles to decisively win the dual meet over the Blue Devils.
Coach’s quote: “The boys really showed our depth today. Besides our usual point scorers, so many athletes had personal records.” – Concord’s Hayden Daly
Merrimack Valley second,
Coe-Brown fourth
Key players: MV – Brandon Wood (1st 110 hurdles in 15.1, 1st 300 hurdles in 41.5, 3rd shot put), Dylan Guinard (1st 400 in 53.3), Walker John (1st 800 in 2:05, 2nd 1600), David Reynolds (1st 3200 in 10:43), 4×400 (1st), Joey Baylus (2nd 110 hurdles, 2nd 300 hurdles, 3rd high jump), Matthew Reynolds (3rd 3200), Herman Nixon (3rd 400), Isaiah Shedd (3rd 1600), Nick Bartlett (3rd javelin); Coe-Brown – Will White (1st shot put in 41-7), Tanner Richards (1st javelin in 132-1), Orion Clachar (3rd 110 hurdles, 3rd 300 hurdles, 4th javelin), Ethan Barbeau (2nd 400, 4th 300), Shawn Spenard (2nd triple jump)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride hosted a quad-meet against some of the best in D-II, with Souhegan (75.83) edging MV (73.5) and also defeating Kennett (68.5) and Coe-Brown (48.16). John ran his best 800 of the season after fully recovering from a foot injury and also anchored the winning 4×400 that beat Souhegan by just 0.3 seconds.
Coach’s quote: “It was an absolutely thrilling meet. We’re talking ESPN types of races.” – MV’s Bob Mullen
John Stark fifth
Key players: John Stark – Patrick Kalob (2nd triple jump), Travis Borruso (4th 1600), Warren Quinlan (tied 3rd high jump, 4th 110 hurdles), Vedin Fowler (3rd triple jump, 5th long jump), 4×400 (3rd)
Highlights/key moments: John Stark (36.5) finished last in a five-team meet at Hanover. Thetford, Vt. (129) defeated Hanover (127), Plymouth (120.5) and Lebanon (106).
Pembroke fifth
Key players: Pembroke – Jason Schoeller (3rd 3,200), Robert Taylor (3rd high jump)
Highlights/key moments: The Spartans (43) finished fifth in an eight-team meet at Sanborn. Sanborn (173.5), Goffstown (123) and ConVal (84) topped the team standings.
Hopkinton first
Key players: Hopkinton – Nick Fleury (1st 100, 200 and long jump), Kevin McGrath (1st long jump and high jump, 2nd 100), Dom Repucci (1st 1600), Aaron Dobe (1st 400, 2nd 200), tucker Windhurst (1st 800), Duncan Calder (1st 3200) Zach Drotos (2nd discus, 4th shot), Max Westbrook (3rd 100), Aidan Molnar (3rd 400), Simon Doneski (3rd 800), Max Rossignol (3rd javelin); Franklin – Paul Dunham (2nd 3200, 3rd 1600), C.J. Gaslin (1st shot, 5th discus), Kyle Adams (2nd shot), Giovanni Lemon (2nd javelin, third high jump and long jump); Concord Christian – Jonathan Taylor (1st javelin, 3rd 300 hurdles) Tim Fisher (3rd 200)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks showed good depth and diversity and finished with 93 points to finish first at this four-team meet in Gilford. The host Golden Eagles were second with 65.5 points, Franklin took third with 41.5 and Concord Christian was fourth with 29.
Kearsarge first, Belmont second
Key players: Kearsarge – Aidan Terhune (1st long jump in 17-7, 1st triple jump in 38-11, 2nd high jump), Eric Scheuch (1st 3200 in 11:59), Ian Bready (2nd 110 hurdles, 2nd 300 hurdles), Hunter Burns (2nd 800), Tim Cunningham (2nd 1600, 3rd 800); Belmont – Kyle Gelinas (1st 200 in 24.5, 1st 400 in 53.7), Marc Forgione, Jr. (1st 100 in 12.0), Nick Randos (1st 800 in 2:09), Zach Ennis (1st 1600 in 4:52), Eli Allman (1st 110 hurdles in 16.2), 4×100 (1st), 4×400 (1st), Brandon Scheffer (1st shot put in 34-4, 2nd 200), Colby Leroux (2nd 100), Adam Sojka (2nd triple jump, 4th 200), River Mathieu (2nd long jump, tied 3rd 100)
Highlights/key moments: Belmont won nine events, but the Cougars showed their depth despite missing two of the their top athletes. Kearsarge (182.5) won a five-team meet at Belmont (169.5) over Prospect Mountain (114), Portsmouth Christian (56) and Woodsville (39).
Bishop Brady second
Key players: Bishop Brady – Sean Sullivan (1st discus at 112-3), Michael Feltham (1st 400 in 57.58), Joe Bell (1st triple jump at 38-0, 2nd high jump, 2nd discus), Peter Dubois (2nd shot put), Vincent Pagano (2nd 300 hurdles), 4×400 (2nd), Nick Jope (3rd 200), Chase Draus (3rd 200), Matt Morey (3rd discus), Connor Lemay (3rd javelin)
Highlights/key moments: The Green Giants did well in the throwing events and had wins from Sullivan, Feltham and Bell to finish second in a five-team meet at Campbell. Campbell (107) topped Bishop Brady (77), Conant (57), Wilton-Lyndeborough (54) and Mascenic (38).